After a “marathon interrogation” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mohammad Masiuddin alias Musa — a terror suspect with alleged Islamic State (IS) links, who is said to have planned attacks against US nationals in India on behalf of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh — was sent back to judicial custody on Friday. He had spent the last two days in custody of National Investigating Agency (NIA), following an order of the Bankshal court.

Musa was brought out of NIA headquarters in Salt Lake, where he was interrogated, around 3.20 pm. Following this, he was taken to the Bidhannagar Municipal Hospital for a check-up. He was then produced before Bankshal court, which remanded him to judicial custody till December 21. Sources said Musa was subjected to closed-door interrogation by an FBI team.

Sources said the American agency grilled him regarding his involvement in the Dhaka cafe attack on July 1 as those killed were mostly foreigners. The FBI allegedly also asked him about how IS lured youths to join the outfit. Musa allegedly told them that creating hatred for “white people” in the minds of the youth was one of their targets.

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The interrogation, said to be a part of FBI’s global study and monitoring of detainees with links to IS operatives, mainly concentrated on Musa’s international connections, said sources. The agency tried to trace their network and channel of communication across the border, said sources. Musa was also allegedly questioned about top IS leaders Safi Arma and Abu Suleiman. He allegedly revealed that Arma was in touch with IS operatives from three countries.

The FBI also tried to trace routes through which the IS supplied explosives. The sleuths allegedly quizzed Musa about IS’ many contacts, including in South Asia. “Interrogating Musa was a part of US’ interest in getting involved with anti-militancy investigations,” said a source. According to NIA sources, the FBI had wanted to interrogate those arrested in connection with the Dhaka attack earlier as well, but the Bangladesh government had not responded favourably to its request.